Lowe's Jerks Ads From Muslim Reality Show

Now critics are calling for a boycott of Lowe's
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 12, 2011 12:30 AM CST
Lowe's Jerks Ads From Muslim Reality Show
The Lowe's Home Improvement chain has pulled its ads from a Muslim reality program after complaints from an evangelical group in Florida.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

The Lowe's retail chain has yanked its ads from an American Muslim reality program after complaints from an evangelical group. Now critics are calling for a boycott of the home improvement seller. The Florida Family Association blasted TLC's new program, All-American Muslim, as "propaganda that hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values"—and members sent emails to Lowe's and other advertisers, AP reports. The reality program follows five Muslim families living in a suburb of Detroit. A member of one of the families told the Detroit News she was "saddened that any place of business would succumb to bigots and people trying to perpetuate their negative views on an entire community."

California State Sen. Ted Lieu called Lowe's decision "shameful and profoundly ignorant," and is calling for a boycott and legislative action if the company doesn't apologize to Muslims and reinstate its ads, reports the Los Angeles Times. Lowe's has apologized for making "some people very unhappy," but officials have not said they will continue the ads. "Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views," the company statement added. "We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance." (More Lowe's stories.)

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